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PhD ceremony Mr. F.A.J. de Laat: Measuring mobility in persons with a lower-limb

When:We 24-04-2013 at 12:45

PhD ceremony: Mr. F.A.J. de Laat, 12.45 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: Measuring mobility in persons with a lower-limb

Promotor(s): prof. J.H.B. Geertzen

Faculty: Medical Sciences

Limitated mobility following lower-limb amputation is regarded as one of the most relevant disabilities affecting the quality of life. Prosthetic devices and rehabilitation can help many people with a lower-limb amputation to restore their mobility. No gold standard exists to assess the perceived limitations in mobility for people with a lower-limb amputation. Methods to assess transfers with a prosthesis (rising and sitting down) and for climbing stairs is lacking. Ambulatory mobility requires that a person has the ability to rise and sit down first, followed by standing. Only then walking and finally climbing stairs is an option.

In this thesis the test-retest reliability and the construct validity of the Questionnaire Rising and Sitting down, Walking Questionnaire, and Climbing stairs Questionnaire were assessed. The questionnaires showed to be valid for people with a lower-limb amputation. The reliability was good for group comparisons but not for individual comparisons. The second aim was to measure the perceived ability of rising and sitting down, and climbing stairs in people with a lower-limb amputation. The perceived ability in rising and sitting down was good, but lower in older-aged and women. Climbing stairs in the house was required for 47% of the participants. While the perceived ability to climb the stairs was moderate, this was more so in older-aged persons and women who perceived less independence in climbing stairs, especially when handrails were absent. Suggestions for prosthetic training and advice for further testing are discussed.

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